Pirates of the Caribbean Online

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. Pirates of the Caribbean Online set sail from Disney.

First off, I have to say that I had a bad experience. Apparently Disney really doesn’t like BonEcho 2.0.0.9pre since it refused to launch and kept telling me that I had a “capable browser” but wouldn’t load the page. In actuality, it loaded the page, but then would switch out of it due to the browser check. Really bad coding job there, Disney considering BonEcho is Firefox for Mac.

Strangely enough, Safari had no issues with the page. Go figure that one out.

After the browser issues (which by the way was sort of a turn off to the game from a first impression scenario), I had the page launched and ready to go. The basic game is free, but you can get the unlimited access package for a mere $10 a month subscription. I chose the basic model and figured that there wouldn’t be a Mac client due to most games running a DirectX integration since it’s just easier to code MMORPGs like that. But Disney gave me the heave ho and surprised me with a Mac client!

What’s interesting is the style of play this is. The start of it is a complete cartoony type aspect and the training and quests have a lot of single player type scenarios and cut scenes. The likenesses of the characters in the movie itself have been also inserted into the game. The game controls are pretty simple. You have the arrow keys, you have the shift key for action, and you have mouse to control general movements/aiming. One little bitty really annoying thing is that when they took into account the Mac, they didn’t take into account that the “right click” is not really as well used for anyone with a Mac. Sure you can set up a right click with the double touch trackpad, or the hold Control down while you click…. but that just doesn’t work with aiming and such. Ick. Sort of an oversight on the part of the testing group.

This game was engrossing enough to keep me at it for a good hour before I knew I wasn’t going to stop to write this if I didn’t just quit. Definitely worth the time and bit of wait for the basic access queue. I assume that in time, there will also be micropayment type scenario based on the fact that the actual subscription model is fairly cheap and there is a basic free version. That just sets up the hook, while the line and sinker wait in the wings.

I definitely feel that this is something that younger children to get into with the typical Disney feel, and the recognizable character setting up your own pirate ship with crew and everything. Arrr yeee mateys!